California Special Election Watch: “Anyone writing Arnold’s political obituary is making a mistake” – Gray Davis

The Los Angeles Daily News has Davis: Arnold won’t lose power after election.

Even if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s measures lose in the Nov. 8 special election, he will remain a powerhouse in California, his ousted predecessor said Friday.

Former Gov. Gray Davis, now a private attorney and a policy fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles, predicted a “split” on Schwarzenegger’s four initiatives on the ballot.

Gray Davis was an indecisive political leader who bowed down to the Union bosses who eventually destroyed his career. He has always had a keen sense of the California political winds.

However, he was stalemated by his own UNION allies, made poor political as well as governance decisions and lost it all.

Popular support has been lacking for the four Schwarzenegger-backed measures that would increase his power over the budget, change the state redistricting process, limit union political contributions and make it harder for teachers to get tenure.

But Davis dismissed Democrats and others who say a major loss next month could cripple Schwarzenegger’s chances in his campaign to retain the governor’s seat in 2006.

“Anyone writing Arnold’s political obituary is making a mistake,” said Davis, a Democrat himself. “Even if all his initiatives are voted down, he still will be a formidable force in 2006.”

Gray Davis has it RIGHT and supports Flap in saying that Schwarzenegger has already won the special election.

Davis said he thinks voters are more forgiving when it comes to losing ballot measures.

“People don’t resent you putting an initiative on the ballot, because its fate is in their hands. What they get upset about is when they have no recourse,” he said. “This election is just not going to determine the governor’s fate in 2006.”

Agreed and what about draining your union friend’s (?) coffers going into 2006 and possibly bankrupting the California Teachers Association?

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Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page